J.D. Power ranks Verizon Wireless highest in network quality across six regions in the U.S.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., March 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- When it comes to wireless network quality in the United States, Verizon Wireless ranks highest across all six regions among U.S. wireless providers, according to the latest J.D. Power 2016 Wireless Network Quality Performance Study℠, Volume 1. Verizon Wireless achieves the highest score in all three quality categories: calling, messaging, and data.

The study queried more than 41,000 wireless subscribers across the U.S. about their experiences with their last 10 calls, messages, emails and Web connections on their mobile devices. The study, conducted between July and December 2015, covers six regions of the U.S., including 48 states and the District of Columbia, and recognizes the highest-ranking companies based on the results. For the third time, Verizon Wireless took the top spot in all six regions.

"We are very pleased with receiving yet another commendation for our network performance," said Mike Haberman, vice president of network support for Verizon Wireless. "It is in our DNA to engineer the very best network possible for our customers. To see our efforts to build and maintain a reliable network and lead in network innovation recognized by third parties is very exciting, because it means our customers are getting the best possible experience. That's why we do what we do – for our customers."

This latest recognition from J. D. Power comes on the heels of the recent RootMetrics National Rootscore® Report that ranked Verizon's network highest in overall network performance for the fifth consecutive testing period.

A key contributor to Verizon's network success is its consistent capital investment in its wireless network to lead in innovation and stay ahead of customers' demands. Since 2000, Verizon has invested more than $111 billion across the U.S. to provide its customers with a reliable network for voice calls, multimedia communication, media consumption and interactive gaming.

In 2015, Verizon expanded its XLTE network coverage, which effectively doubles the network's 4G LTE bandwidth and provides customers with greater peak speeds in over 450 markets nationwide. Verizon installed 3,949 new cell sites and 7,267 XLTE capacity sites last year across the country to accommodate exponential data usage growth and to enable customers to experience an unmatched level of connectivity.

Rural matters too. Five years ago, Verizon Wireless launched the LTE in Rural America (LRA) program with 21 rural wireless operators to help drive innovation and extend the benefits of 4G LTE technology across rural America.

In addition to enhancing XLTE coverage and providing rural coverage, Verizon focused on handling ever-increasing traffic on America's largest and most reliable network by designing and deploying new small-cell systems and Distributed Antenna Systems in select locations across the US, deploying carrier aggregation as a part of LTE Advanced to gain efficiencies in its network and deploying its own fiber to ensure the highest levels of reliability.

"While maintaining and enhancing our 4G LTE network is a high priority for us, we also want to continue to lead the way in technology innovation," said Haberman. "That's why we are currently testing 5G technology in areas across the U.S. This leap forward will enable things we've never even dreamed of being able to do wirelessly. Verizon is not only leading in current network performance, but we are also on the forefront of new innovation," added Haberman.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) employs a diverse workforce of 177,700 and generated nearly $132 billion in 2015 revenues. Verizon operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 112 million retail connections nationwide. Headquartered in New York, the company also provides communications and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers worldwide.

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